Sinking of the SS Ravansworth 15 September 1917

[seaweed]

As stated by Ady Merchant Seamen were not automatically given war grave status, the criteria seems to be "killed as a result of direct enemy action".
The CWGC acknowledge a number of Merchant Seamen from both world wars have been awarded war grave status outside  of their criteria and it was decided that these names should be left on the Debt of Honour so as not to cause their families further distress.
I have been involved with several attempts to commemorate men and women  who died in similar circumstances as William Hicken only to be turned down by the CWGC.
I don't know the figures for the first world war but my understanding is there are over 6000 Merchant Navy personal who died in WW2 who remain uncomemerated. Apart from many more who are not even recorded is the DAS register and have no known grave but the sea.
Incidentally, members of the other three services where automatically given war grave status regardless of their cause of death. An injustice to this day and one that the MNA and other groups are still attempting to reverse. Sadly with little success.

[DAVID WALTERS]

Many thanks again to one and all. More so with the knowledge you are passing on, all very interesting.

Any idea if I can find him on any crew lists, or the ship itself. In 1911 he was a general labourer. So had not spent that long as a seaman. His step father Evan Williams born 1860 was a sea man, maybe he helped him find the ship.

[seaweed]

Effectively no central MM central personal records were kept between 1857 and 1913. The ones for the period of the first world war have been destroyed.
If you look at my first post, the only way you can trace him is to look at BT99/3290 This piece should also contain the crew agreement, which should give you the name of his previous ship as well as some personal details. NOK. last address etc.
If you then find the official number of his previous ship, you can the search her crew agreements and hopefully find the ship he was on before that. So by a back tracking exercise it may be possible to find all of the vessels he served on. Its not easy and it's not cheap. Some crew agreements are at Kew, others at the Memorial University of Newfoundland and some including years ending in the figure 5 are at NMM Greenwich.
I checked the crew lists at FindMyPast but he is not mentioned there. However most crew lists pre 1913 are still awaiting transcription.

[seaweed]

Just a little on the ship
RAVENSWORTH official number 88756
Built by J Priestman and company at their Castletown Yard, Southwick, Sunderland.
Yard Number 8
Completed September 1883
Length 190ft Breadth 30.3ft 90HP engine
801grt 480nrt
Iron Hulled
Radio call sign JCGD
Owned in 1917 by Owen I Harries 4, Cambrian Place, Swansea
Registered Newcastle upon Tyne
Sunk in collision near Copeland Island
Registration papers in TNA ref BT110/394/31
Cannot find a photograph of her. Try Tyne and Wear Archives

[DAVID WALTERS]

  Thanks again seaweed

All building for me a little bit of history and background.